By EMILY D. COOK / Community Columnist

Have you seen the new Community Archery Park located inside Oak Mountain State Park?

If not, you need to come and check it out!

The grand opening was held on Aug. 4. It becomes the 11^th community archery park in the state of Alabama.
The archery park will be open year-round during daylight hours for recreational shooting, competitive tournaments and outdoor educational programming.

The Park Naturalist is certified to teach archery classes and will be happy to set up a class for teachers, Girl Scout and Boy Scout troops, or anyone interested in learning about archery.

Be on the watch for events scheduled by following us on Facebook and by looking at our website, Alapark.com/oak-mountain-state-park.

The facility includes an eight-target adult range from 15 to 50 yards, an eight-target youth range of 5 to 20 yards and a four-target range of 10 to 40 yards.

The park also features a 12-foot shooting platform for bow hunters to practice shooting from an elevated position.

There is a bathroom and small pavilion with a few picnic tables onsite.
Use of the archery park is free for those under 16 years of age or over 65 years of age.

Oak Mountain entry fees still apply. Alabamians ages 16 to 64 must have a hunting license, Wildlife Management Area license, or Wildlife Heritage license in order to shoot.

For non-residents, an annual Wildlife Management Area license or non-resident hunting license is required.

Licenses are available from various local retailers or online at Outdooralabama.com.

For more information on scheduling an archery class with the Park Naturalist, call 620-2520 or email Oakmountain.naturalist@dcnr.alabama.gov.

To schedule a competitive tournament, contact Anna Jones Frew, Oak Mountain Events Coordinator by calling 620-2520 or by email at Anna.Jones@dcnr.alabama.gov.

Please remember that you keep Alabama State Parks open by visiting them.